Egypt opposition warns elections may fuel tensions

Source: AP-Excite

CAIRO (AP) - An Egyptian opposition leader is warning the president's call for parliamentary elections in April will only inflame the country's political tensions.

Mohamed ElBaradei, who leads the main opposition National Salvation Front, wrote on his Twitter account Friday that President Mohammed Morsi's "decision to go for parliamentary elections amidst severe societal polarization and eroding state authority is a recipe for disaster."

ElBaradei's group has already warned it would boycott the vote unless there are talks with the president aimed at real reconciliation. It has also said it will boycott if election laws written by the Islamist-led interim parliament favor Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood party.

The Brotherhood has consistently won at the ballot box since Egypt's uprising two years ago while the mostly secular and liberal opposition has trailed significantly behind.

An Egyptian Ultras activist chants anti-President Mohammed Morsi slogans while leading a rally during the fifth day of a general strike, in Port Said, Egypt, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

1. Elections fuel tensions around here, too. That is inevitable.

Of course, election-related 'tensions' in Egypt can manifest themselves in quite different ways than 'tensions' in other parts of the world. And it is something that Egyptians are getting used to since they did not have to worry about elections and their related tensions for many years. The underlying tensions were still there but they were largely invisible to most of us.

3. This is nonsensical.

He doesn't want the Brothers in power, and he doesn't want elections?

What does he want?

Boycotting the elections will ensure his side loses while also lessening the legitimacy of whoever wins. Looks like a recipe for continued political instability. Is it "the worse the better" for El Baradei?